Have Fun With These 5 Multiplayer Mobile Games

This stat may surprise you: the mobile gaming industry is now worth a staggering $68.5 billion. That represents 45% of the total global gaming market. Mobile games make up a third of all app downloads and a dominating 74% of consumer spending.

This investment has clearly paid off when it comes to game quality on smartphones. And on top of that, bigger screens, powerful smartphones, and unlimited data plans have made it possible to match the console or PC multiplayer experience.

Whether it’s your commute, Covid-19 lockdowns, or just lounging on the sofa on a lazy Sunday, these 4 multiplayer mobile games will inject a good dose of fun into your day.

 

Mario Kart Tour

Okay, I used to be obsessed with Mario Kart growing up. I started on the Nintendo 64, loved it on the Wii, and still play it on the Nintendo Switch. When it was launched in 2019, I popped open a bottle of fizz to celebrate (yes, I’m a geek). If you’re like me and a fan of the originals, you’ll love this game.

Sure, it’s not quite the same experience as doing it on a big screen with a console, everyone in the same room, but this is almost as good. It has everything you love about the original: the characters, loads of cool vehicles, and a handful of unique tracks.

The one thing this version of the game hasn’t done? The ability for me to see my friends throwing their controllers on the floor or against the wall after yet another victory by yours truly.

Scrabble GO

This is another game that is close to my heart: I used to play the in-person board game version with my mom when home from college (she never let me beat her, not even once). We rekindled that old tradition by using Scrabble GO, and I can’t recommend it enough.

The game has many copycats, but there’s only one Scrabble. There’s something about that familiar color scheme, the gameplay, the memories of playing it with family and friends. This version was launched in March 2020, and so far it’s the most successful mobile word game ever released.

The game also has a few different options, including a time-based version, and tournaments with people from all over the world. I often play this on my commute, as the Head to Head option is turn-based and you can ‘pause’ the game when your workday starts!

Kahoot!

This is a really fun version of a trivia night. Kahoot! gives you the chance to create your very own multiple choice quizzes, which can take any form you want: fun and easy, not taking it too seriously. Or if you want to run a quiz that wouldn’t look out of place at Jeopardy!, that’s an option too (RIP Alex Trebek).

Once you’ve created the quiz, the app will generate a pin code that you can give to friends and family. It’s super easy to get a game up and running, and it has very few kinks, errors, or glitches. Compared to other games of this kind, that’s a huge achievement.

The game is quite generous with its free plan, with 10 players able to join without charge. For $9.99 a month, you can add more people. But to be honest, I’ve never needed it.

Call of Duty: Mobile

Mobile versions of AAA titles haven’t always been very successful, with many being poor cousins to the original. Call of Duty has managed to create a mobile game that lives up to the billing.

The game has one word that captures it: playability. Most first-person shooters are annoying to use, I mostly give up. The shooting is awkward, movement stunted, and it always feels like the game isn’t doing what you’re telling it to (a common complaint of mine, but this time it’s legit!).

CoD, however, doesn’t have any of these problems. The best thing about the game is its auto-fire system, which gives it that playability I’ve mentioned. Other people with a little more editorial credibility than myself also liked it: it won the mobile game of the year at the yearly Game Awards. Definitely worth picking this one up.
 

It’s a Golden Era for Mobile Games

I’ve given you five titles, but there are literally hundreds that could easily claim a place on this list and provide equal quality and entertainment. It’s seriously a golden age for mobile games at the moment, and with subscription-based no-ad options like Apple Arcade hitting the scene, I expect things to get even better going forward.